Absolute Universe
{{Short description|DC Comics imprint}}
{{About|the DC Comics imprint|the 2021 studio album by Transatlantic|The Absolute Universe{{!}}The Absolute Universe}}
{{Infobox comic book title
| title = {{no italic|Absolute Universe}}
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| genre = Superhero
| publisher = DC Comics
| startmo = October 2,
| startyr = 2024
| main_char_team = Earth-Alpha/Elseworld
| endyr = present
}}
The Absolute Universe (AU) is an imprint of American comic books overseen by writer Scott Snyder and published by DC Comics. The comics take place in a shared universe designated Alpha-World as part of the DC Comics multiverse, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the DC Universe.
The imprint is part of the DC All In initiative, debuting in the aftermath of the 2024 Absolute Power crossover event. It was launched that year with the publication of the ongoing series Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman.
Publication history
The Absolute Universe (AU) is an all-new continuity separate from the DC Universe (DCU) overseen by Scott Snyder as part of the DC All In initiative.{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=July 31, 2024 |title=Why the Absolute Universe Is DC's Most Exciting Launch in Years |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dc-comics-absolute-universe-batman-scott-snyder |access-date=October 18, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}} The AU began in October 2024 with the DC All-In Special. The first titles released in the AU are Absolute Batman by Snyder with Nick Dragotta, and Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, which both started publication in October. A third title, Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval, debuted in November of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=July 18, 2024 |title=DC Reveals First Three Absolute Universe Titles |url=https://www.cbr.com/dc-reveals-first-three-absolute-universe-titles/ |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Polo |first=Susana |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are about to get alternate origin stories via DC's All In |url=https://www.polygon.com/24200459/dc-comics-reboot-all-in-absolute-universe-scott-snyder |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=Polygon |language=en}} Originally Rafael Albuquerque was set to illustrate Absolute Superman, but had to pull out of the project due to severe floods in his home country of Brazil, with Sandoval being brought onto the project in June 2024.{{Cite web |title=The Design of Absolute DC: Rafa Sandoval on Coming to the Rescue on Absolute Superman |url=https://sktchd.com/longform/rafa-sandoval-absolute-superman-design/ |access-date=October 12, 2024 |website=SKTCHD |language=en-US}}
Three further titles were released in 2025: Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles, Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez (both in March),{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=July 25, 2024 |title=DC Comics Announces Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comics-announces-absolute-flash-by-jeff-lemire-and-nick-robles/ |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=October 18, 2024 |title=Confirmed: Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/confirmed-absolute-martian-manhunter-by-deniz-camp-javier-rodriguez/ |access-date=October 18, 2024 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en-us}} and Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay in April.{{Cite web |author1=Will Salmon |date=July 27, 2024 |title=Absolute Green Lantern is writer Al Ewing's first series for DC and will be a "complete reimagining" of the concept, starring multiple Lanterns |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-announces-absolute-green-lantern-at-san-diego-comic-con/ |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}
Setting
The AU features previous concepts from Doomsday Clock (2017–2019), Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020–2021), and Infinite Frontier (2021–2023). It is set in Earth-Alpha, also called the Elseworld, one of the two pillars of the Metaverse, along with Earth-Omega, where Darkseid used to be imprisoned. According to Snyder, while the DCU is "influenced by Superman energy", the AU is "influenced by Darkseid energy", making society treat superheroes as underdogs.{{Cite web |last=Salmon |first=Will |date=July 18, 2024 |title=Absolute Batman heads up the first wave of a new Ultimates-style universe as part of DC's All In comic book line refresh |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-all-in-announcement/ |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=O'Donoghue |first=Kate |date=July 18, 2024 |title=DC's ABSOLUTE Universe Is Finally Official: Get the Full Story & New Creator Details Here |url=https://screenrant.com/dc-absolute-universe-comic-story-creator-details/ |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}}
It is established in DC All In Special that Earth-Alpha has been reshaped by Darkseid's essence as he is bent on creating a world driven by challenge and turmoil in which heroes are the "small chaos" rather than established parts of its system, while attempting to control its past and future during the gradual consolidation of the timeline on modern times.DC All-In Special #1. DC Comics. Vital parts of the characters are stripped (i.e., Batman's wealth, Diana's childhood, and Kal-El being raised on Krypton as a young boy instead of as a baby), while keeping the central message and key personality traits intact.
List of publications
= Prelude =
| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align: center;"
!Title !Writers !Artists !Colorists !Publication date !Ref. |
| scope="col" |DC All In Special
|Scott Snyder |Wes Craig |Mike Spicer |October 2, 2024 |
|---|
= Ongoing series =
= One-shot =
| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align: center;"
!Title !Writers !Artists !Colorists !Publication date !Ref. |
| scope="col" |Free Comic Book Day 2025: DC All In/Absolute Universe Special Edition
|Dan Slott |Rafael Albuquerque |Marcelo Maiolo |May 3, 2025 | |
|---|
= Related material =
| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align: center;"
!Title !Issue !Writers !Artists !Colorists !Publication date !Ref. |
| scope="col" |The New Gods Vol. 5
|1– |Jorge Fornes |Francesco Segala |December 18, 2024 |
|---|
Collected editions
| class="wikitable"
!width="4px"|# !Title !Material collected !class="unsortable"|Format !Pages !Released !class="unsortable" style="width: 10em;"|ISBN |
| colspan="7" style="background-color: silver;" |Absolute Batman |
|---|
| rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|The Zoo |rowspan=2|Absolute Batman #1–6 |style="text-align: center;"|HC |rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|176 |rowspan=2|{{dts|August 5, 2025}} |{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505242}}}} |
| style="text-align: center;"|TPB
|{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505259}}}} |
| colspan=7 style="background-color: silver;"|Absolute Wonder Woman |
| rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|The Last Amazon |rowspan=2|Absolute Wonder Woman #1–7 |style="text-align: center;"|HC |rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|176 |rowspan=2|{{dts|August 12, 2025}} |{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505297}}}} |
| style="text-align: center;"|TPB
|{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505303}}}} |
| colspan=7 style="background-color: silver;"|Absolute Superman |
| rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|Last Dust Of Krypton |rowspan=2|Absolute Superman #1–6 |style="text-align: center;"|HC |rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|176 |rowspan=2|{{dts|August 19, 2025}} |{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505327}}}} |
| style="text-align: center;"|TPB
|{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505334}}}} |
| colspan="7" style="background-color: silver;" |Absolute Martian Manhunter |
| rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|Martian Vision |rowspan=2|Absolute Martian Manhunter #1–6 |style="text-align: center;"|HC |rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|144 |rowspan=2|{{dts|November 18, 2025}} |{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505204}}}} |
| style="text-align: center;"|TPB
|{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505211}}}} |
| colspan="7" style="background-color: silver;" |Absolute Green Lantern |
| rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|Without Fear |rowspan=2|Absolute Green Lantern #1–6 |style="text-align: center;"|HC |rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|176 |rowspan=2|{{dts|December 9, 2025}} |{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505549}}}} |
| style="text-align: center;"|TPB
|{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505556}}}} |
| colspan="7" style="background-color: silver;" |Absolute Flash |
| rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|Of Two Worlds |rowspan=2|Absolute Flash #1–6 |style="text-align: center;"|HC |rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|144 |rowspan=2|{{dts|December 23, 2025}} |{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505181}}}} |
| style="text-align: center;"|TPB
|{{nowrap|{{ISBNT|978-1799505198}}}} |
Reception
= Sales =
The first issue of Absolute Batman had a print run of around 250,000 copies and by the end of 2024, Absolute Batman became the best selling comic of 2024, with combined sales of first, second, third and black-and-white printings, selling just under 400,000 copies.{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} |date=2024-11-19 |title=DC Claims Absolute Batman #1 is 2024's Best-Selling Comic, But Is It? |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-claims-absolute-batman-1-is-2024s-best-selling-comic-but-is-it/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}} Initial orders of Absolute Wonder Woman #1 received orders of around 150,000, and Absolute Superman having a print run of about 180,000 copies.{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} |date=2024-10-09 |title=Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Gets 150,000 Orders, Superman Looking At 180K |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/absolute-wonder-woman-1-gets-150000-orders-superman-looking-at-180k/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}
By February 2025, the line had sold over 2.5 million units.{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} |date=2025-02-21 |title=ComicsPRO: Absolute Batman #1 Gets A Sixth Printing |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comicspro-absolute-batman-1-gets-a-sixth-printing/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}
With the second wave of the Absolute Line, Absolute Flash #1 was the best selling Flash comic since Flash #1 from 1987, getting over 180,000 pre-orders, along with Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 having sold over 120,000 copies.{{Cite web |last=Epps |first=Justin |date=2025-03-20 |title=DC's New Flash Just Broke a Sales Record Nearly 40 Years In the Making |url=https://screenrant.com/dc-comics-the-flash-absolute-sales-historic/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} {{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} |date=2025-03-08 |title=Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 Gets Over 120,000 Orders |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/absolute-martian-manhunter-1-gets-over-120000-orders/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}
= Accolades =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Award !Category !Nominee !Comic !Ref. |
| rowspan="5" |2025
| rowspan="5" |Eisner Awards | rowspan="2" |Best New Series |Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta |Absolute Batman |
| Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman
|Absolute Wonder Woman |
| Best Writer
|Kelly Thompson |Absolute Wonder Woman |
| Best Penciller/Inker
|Nick Dragotta |Absolute Batman |
| Best Cover Artist
|Hayden Sherman |Absolute Wonder Woman |
See also
- Earth One: The first modern reimagining of DC Comics titular characters.
- Ultimate Marvel: An imprint by Marvel Comics similar to Absolute Universe and Earth One.
- Ultimate Universe: Another Marvel Comics imprint with a modern reimagining of its characters released around the same time as the Absolute Universe.
- Energon Universe: An Image Comics shared universe of Transformers and G.I. Joe.
- Valiant Beyond: An imprint by Valiant Comics similar to the Absolute Universe.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Absolute Universe}}
{{DC events}}
{{DC Multiverse}}